Grants for Performing Arts
Last updated October 24, 2026
Grantable tracks 539 active grants for performing arts in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 12 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 313 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.
- Grants tracked
- 539
- from 347 funders
- Median award
- $10K
- middle half $5,000–$25K
- Total listed funding
- $22.2M
- across 313 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 9
- 24 with a published date
On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Second Stage Pacific Northwest Ballet Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Second Stage is a unique career transition program designed to help Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers achieve their post-Company goals. | |
| Saltonstall x Circus Culture residency Program Grant Constance Saltonstall Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Saltonstall x Circus Culture residency offers a unique opportunity for individual circus artists in New York State and Native Nations to develop their projects in a supportive environment. | |
| Vibrant City Arts Grants City of Tempe · State Not published · Up to $3K The Vibrant City Arts Grants, offered by the City of Tempe, support artist collectives and cultural groups in providing inclusive arts programming. | |
| Aurand Harris Grants & Fellowships The Children's Theatre Foundation of America · Foundation Not published · $2K – $3K The Aurand Harris Grants & Fellowships support children’s theatre by funding projects that foster artistic growth and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Eligible applicants include 501c3 nonprofit theatres and individual artists. | |
| Asian Cultural Council Fellowships & Grants Asian Cultural Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) awards fellowships and grants supporting cultural exchange between the United States and Asia (and within Asia), including New York Fellowships, Individual Fellowships, and Grants to Institutions across… | |
| Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program Central City Opera House Association · Foundation Not published · Varies A rigorous and nationally-recognized 10-week professional development program for young opera singers, regarded as a national model for professional development. |
Showing 529–534 of 534
About grants for performing arts
Grants for the performing arts support theater, dance, music, opera, and presenting organizations through production, touring, education, and operating funds. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds the field through its Grants for Arts Projects program, and state arts councils and regional arts organizations distribute additional public dollars. Private foundations like the Mellon and Doris Duke foundations support larger institutions, artists, and field-wide initiatives.
A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for performing arts down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.
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This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do grants for performing arts award?
Of the 539 grants for performing arts Grantable lists as of October 24, 2026, 313 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $25K. The largest is $6M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most grants for performing arts?
By number of active listings, the leading funders are Entertainment Community Fund (11), Asian Cultural Council Inc (9), Opera America Inc (9), South Arts Inc (8), and The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc (8). In all, 347 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are grants for performing arts due?
Of 539 grants listed, 9 accept applications on a rolling basis, 24 have a published upcoming deadline, 120 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 386 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 54% fall in October–December.
What grants are available for the performing arts?
Performing arts organizations can pursue funding for productions, commissions, touring, presenting series, arts education, and operating support across disciplines like theater, dance, music, and opera. The NEA's Grants for Arts Projects is the principal federal source, and state and regional arts agencies offer project and operating grants. Private foundations add support for new work, artist development, and institutional capacity.
Who funds the performing arts?
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the central federal funder, working through state arts councils and regional arts organizations that re-grant public funds locally. Private funders such as the Mellon Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation support performing arts institutions and artists nationally, and community foundations and corporate programs fund local companies and venues.
Can individual performers apply, or only organizations?
Most public performing arts grants go to nonprofit organizations rather than individuals. Individual performers and creators typically access support through fellowships, prizes, and commissions from foundations and service organizations, or by working under a fiscal sponsor or partnering with a nonprofit so they can receive organizational funding.
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